Music for Autism Welcomes Eight New Board Members
Miles Shankman
Music for Autism is proud to welcome eight exceptional new members to its Board of Directors: Keith Benkov, MD; Susan Berman, PhD; Jack Josephy; Debra Katz, MD; Steve Levin; Justin Mohatt, MD; Jamie Pagliaro; and Isabelle Von Kohorn, MD, PhD. As the organization approaches its 20th anniversary, this group brings deep expertise across medicine, finance, education, and the arts — strengthening Music for Autism’s mission of enhancing quality of life for individuals with autism and their families through live music experiences.
Keith Benkov, MD Dr. Keith Benkov is a pediatric gastroenterologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he earned his medical degree and completed his residency and fellowship. He founded Mount Sinai’s Pediatric IBD Program, has treated more than 3,000 young patients, and serves as Division Chief of Pediatric Gastroenterology. A Brooklyn native and Stony Brook graduate, he has completed 32 New York City Marathons, often fundraising alongside former patients and family members.
Susan Berman, PhD (Institutional Board Position) Dr. Susan Berman is President and CEO of The Help Group, one of the nation’s leading organizations for education, mental health, and developmental services, serving more than 25,000 individuals annually. Over four decades of leadership, she has championed inclusion through her philosophy of “windows, not walls.” She joins as Music for Autism’s first Institutional Board Member, representing The Help Group in Los Angeles; the seat is held by the organization rather than the individual.
Jack Josephy Jack Josephy is Senior Vice President of Finance & Strategy at Workit Health, where he supports innovative approaches to treating substance use disorder. He previously advised on large-scale debt transactions at Morgan Stanley in Leveraged & Acquisition Finance. A graduate of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, he lives in New York City and enjoys cooking, sports, and the city’s restaurant scene.
Debra Katz, MD Dr. Debra Katz is Senior National Medical Director for Optum Behavioral Health Solutions Medicaid, where she leads initiatives to improve quality of care for individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, and serious mental illness. She previously served as Regional Medical Director for Optum’s public sector programs and held leadership roles in child and adolescent services in Texas. She earned her MD from The George Washington University and is board certified in Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Steve Levin Steve Levin is a partner at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg, where he established the firm’s New York office in 1984 and focuses on international mergers and acquisitions and large joint ventures. For over 25 years, he has served as pro bono general counsel and director of Clal – The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership. He lives in Chatham, New York, with his wife Terri; they have been married nearly 50 years and have three children and six grandchildren.
Justin Mohatt, MD Dr. Justin Mohatt brings more than 20 years of experience in child and adolescent psychiatry across clinical, academic, and innovation settings. He previously held senior leadership roles at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, where he helped develop specialized programs in pediatric anxiety and related disorders. He now runs a private practice in Carmel, California, and advises on the design of mental health facilities to promote healing and well-being. A former board member of Atlantic Theater Company, he lives in Carmel with his husband of 27 years and their two Bernedoodles.
Jamie Pagliaro Jamie Pagliaro is President and CEO of EarliPoint Health, where he leads efforts to expand access to earlier autism diagnosis using FDA-cleared eye-tracking technology. He previously spent 16 years in senior leadership at Rethink First, scaling platforms that support clinicians, educators, and caregivers. His work centers on reducing barriers to care for children and families navigating neurodevelopmental and behavioral health challenges.
Isabelle Von Kohorn, MD, PhD Dr. Isabelle Von Kohorn is Chief Medical Officer at Pomelo Care and an experienced physician, educator, and leader in neonatology. She previously spent over 11 years at Holy Cross Health, a major community birth hospital affiliated with Children’s National Health Center, where she served as Chief of Neonatology and Medical Director of the NICU, alongside four years as Clinical Assistant Professor at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Earlier, she was a Program Officer at the National Academy of Medicine, contributing to the Roundtable on Value- and Science-Driven Healthcare and its work to advance The Learning Healthcare System. She completed a Clinical Fellowship in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at Yale School of Medicine and served as Chief Resident in Pediatrics at UCSF. She holds an AB in Public & International Affairs from Princeton, an MD from the University of Pennsylvania, and a PhD in Investigative Medicine from Yale.
